Life during training for IAS is like a reward for all the hard work that aspirants do. Preparing for one of the toughest exams – the Indian civil service exams demand complete focus and dedication both mentally and physically. Although the process of clearing the exams is really tough, the life after clearing is satisfying. You feel proud that you are serving the country.
The prestige and power civil services provide you are unmatchable. UPSC preparation is not just exam preparation, it is training for life. It teaches you patience, determination, facing failures, and a fighting spirit. And once you successfully clear the examinations, you get an opportunity to live the most desirable part of the IAS training journey.
Every year candidates compete for the best spots in IAS training institutes like LBSNAA. In this blog, we will inform you all about the experience of training for IAS officers in Mussoorie at LSBNAA.
About the Institute
LBSNAA (Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration), Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, is the training institute for all the recruits who have passed the civil service examinations. The initial training is for four months for everyone whether inducted in IAS, IPS, IFoS, IFS, IRS, etc. The training schedule and activities are similar for all the services in these four months.
After this initial training, the trainees move to their respective institutes based on the service they are selected for. While the IAS trainees continue their training at LBSNAA only, IPS trainees go to Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad. Foreign services candidates move to Foreign services institute, New Delhi. National Academy of Direct Taxes, Nagpur for those in Direct Taxes or National Academy of Customs, Excise, and Narcotics, Faridabad for those in Indirect taxes.
What You Learn During IAS Officer Training?
Once you clear the exams, you are ready with enough knowledge of theory-based subjects and current affairs. But now is the time to interact with the world, work on yourself. Invest time in self-development, which you sacrificed during all those years of preparations. Along with resting, you get to meet some great minds who share their experience with you.
Interacting with other officers, travelling to new places, learning about the job and country — you will get to learn so many new things. The whole lifestyle changes after your training for IAS is complete.
Physical Exercise
Starting the day with physical exercise, including yoga, running, and other exercises ensures that the officer is fit; if not, the training makes them fit. Not only this, you get enough time to play sports in the evening. This is more like an informal session to develop a healthy relationship among the officers.
Generally, the morning activities start at six in the morning, and all trainees do physical exercise to prepare themselves for the day.
Classes for Practical Learning
Training of IAS officers in Mussoorie includes classes for practical learning. Faculty members from renowned institutions deliver subject-specific lectures. These include practical subjects like environmental issues, social events, handling different issues in the state, holding a political, social, or another event in the state, etc.
Ex-civil service officers also come to share their experiences. Such sessions are helpful as they nurture a professional attitude among officers. During your studies, you are an aspirant, but training for IAS makes you a bureaucrat. The professionalism which an officer should have is developed during this training under the guidance of mentors.
The usual time of classes is from ten to four, after which trainees take tea and snacks, rest for some time and get ready for their evening activities.
Extracurricular and Adventurous Activities
The IAS training journey gives you everything which you have missed while preparing for it. Trekking, cycling, village visits, visiting nearby institutions, etc., all are part of the training. The training is not only about being in the institute and learning things; rather, it involves going out and exploring nature.
Along with this, the extracurricular activities also keep you busy and involved. Class activities, real-life situations, etc., keep you energised and playful during the whole journey. Team building activities create a relationship and coordination among the trainees.
Officer trainees are trained in horse-riding, shooting, archery, self-defence, and rock climbing. Activities like river rafting, parasailing, and paragliding are also part of the training. In some batches, important figures like the prime minister and president also visit the institute.
The officer trainees are sent to treks on the greater Himalayas. This helps them understand how to cope with harsh conditions like limited food, challenging weather, insufficient accommodation. Trainees are also sent to backward rural areas to understand what life is like in these places. All this gives them a practical approach for doing their job efficiently.
Institute Campus
The campus is stunning and big enough to have a fantastic time during the training. Everything in the 185-acre lush green campus is eye-pleasing.
Sports Complex
Arrangements for playing games like cricket, football, swimming, volleyball, table tennis, polo, etc. are there. All these games and other interactive activities play an important role in making your journey memorable.
The training centre is divided into four main buildings, namely Karmashila, Dhruvshila, Gyanshila, and Aadharshila. Karmashila has lecture halls, officers’ mess, library, and officers’ lounge. Office of faculties and other administrative offices are located in Dhruvashila. Gyanshila has some classrooms and offices and Aadharshila has computer labs.
Library
The institute’s library has more than 1.5 lakhs books, thousands of DVDs, and hundreds of periodicals, making it a storehouse of knowledge and reading for all the trainees. This makes an immense impact on shaping a trainee’s personality.
Officers’ Mess
The institute has the officers’ mess which usually caters up to 500 people. The food menu usually changes every week. Also, a special menu is prepared during the visit of important personalities like the PM and president. The mess prepares special cuisine for festivals like Diwali, Pongal, etc.
As a trainee, you will get a variety of food from different parts of India. Even the trainees from different regions like south India and east India sometimes help the mess workers prepare their regional cuisine.
Conclusion
Life during training for IAS is highly rewarding for the wealth of knowledge and experience gathered through the unique training process. All the hard work pays off when you see the result and then relax at the institute. The training includes practical training through lectures, sports events, cultural and other interactive activities.
The training of IAS officers in Mussoorie begins when one clears the UPSC exams. While doing your UPSC preparation, you must get the correct guidance. And having a personal mentor is the best way to ensure you are constantly improving. Therefore, your preparation should be such that you keep on gaining confidence with every passing day.
At UPSC Pathshala, experienced mentors will guide you in your preparations, keep track of your progress, and help you improve in your weaker areas of the subject. You can also read the UPSC Pathshala blogs to get a perspective on streamlining your IAS preparation schedule.
Being an IAS officer is the matter of pride. This article has given the entire way of the training in LBSNAA. Did you know about it ?